U.S. Cellular Field to Host Boxing Card on August 16

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By Matthew Paras

The home of the Chicago White Sox, US Cellular Field, is set to make its return to boxing with an Aug. 16 card promoted by Dominic Pesoli and Frank Mugnolo’s Round 3/8 Count Productions and Warriors Boxing.

The deal with the venue and the Illinois State Athletic Commission is completely finalized, the Promoters told Maxboxing. With a full capacity size of 40,615, U.S. Cellular Field will be scaled to seat 12,000. The ring will be placed between home plate and the stands.

“It’s been 50 plus years since a fight has been held at U.S. Cellular Field,” Pesoli said. “I think it’s going to be a really great relationship with bringing it back to the people.”

As to who is appearing on the card, both promoters said the fights still need to be worked out. Chicago Light Heavyweight Andrzej Fonfara could possibly be the main event, depending on the status of his hand injury. Donovan George and Arthur Spzilka were mentioned as well.

Pesoli said that television rights also need to be worked out, but he believes that the deal will be enticing to one of the major networks.

“Even though we don’t really know who the main event is, this is going be such a unique opportunity for people to experience that I think people who aren’t your normal boxing fans will come out for this historical event,” Pesoli said.

The card will be the first time boxing has seen an event in a baseball stadium since 2010 when Miguel Cotto fought Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium. For Chicago, the last fight at U.S. Cellular Field (then Comiskey Park) was Sept. 25, 1962 when Sonny Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round to win the Heavyweight championship.

“For so long the Casinos had been holding all these big events,” Pesoli said. “It’s time to bring it back to the people.”